Toy airplane



Sept. 9, 1930. 1 H p c 1,775,252

TOY AIRPLANE Filed March 20, 1928 A3 Inventor John /7. Penn/ck Attorney Patented Sept. 9, 1930 JOHN H. PENNICK, F VALLEYFORID, WASHINGTON TOY AIRELANE Application filed March 20, 1928. Serial No. 263,083.

* My present invention relates to improveconstruction. A

ments in toy airplanes of the type designed to be thrown or cast into the air by hand.

" The primary objectof the inventionis the provision of a toy of this type which is provided with devices whereby the direction of travel of the toy maybe predetermined by the use of devices incorporated as parts of the toy. Thus the toy may be thrown or cast into thefair and steered or guided so that it will riseor fall, or turn to the right or to the left.

In carrying out my invention certain novel 'featuresof construction and arrangement are provided for accomplishing these purposes as'will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy airplane involving the features of my invention and adjusted so that it will make a nose dive. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view at line 2-42 through the body of the airplane. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation at the rear end of the plane showing the steering elements. Fig. 4c is a perspective view of an adjustable retaining block for the steering elements. Fig. 5 is a broken perspective view showing the means for elevating or lowering the plane in its flight. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view showing the adjustment of the horizontal elevator. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the hinge of the horizontal elevator.

In the preferred form of my invention as disclosed in the drawings I have utilized a box frame 1 preferably of rectangular shape and utilized as a biplane. The ends of the boX frame are provided with windows 2 and interior braces 3 of the frame insure a rigid pair of wheels 4 are journalled in the bottom of the frame which is slotted to accommodate them, and longitudinal guards 5 are provided at the open front of the frame to prevent displacement of articles that may be carried as toy freight in the box frame. A rotatable propeller 6 is journalled at the front central portion of the transversely extending box frame and on the top of the frame a tapering hood 7 is fixed which tapers toward the rear of the plane in order to direct air currents to the steering apparatus. 7

The fuselage of the airplane is provided through the use of a main longitudinally extending beam 8, which beam may be fashioned of wood while the other parts of the airplane may be fashioned of cardboard or any other suitable sheet material adapted for the purpose.

It will be apparent that the beam 8 of the toy is grasped by hand at the rear of the box frame. and the toy is then hurled or thrown head-first through the air to make its flight.

Before hurling or throwing the toy the steering apparatus may be adjusted if the toy is to change its direction of flight, or the steering apparatus may remain in normal position to sustain the flight until the toy falls by gravity.

At the rear of the toy a vertical rudder 9 is located and provided with notches 10 on its rear edge. This rudder is fashioned like a fin and is secured on top of the beam at its rear end.

In connection with the vertical rudder I employ a horizontally disposed rudder 12 having a slot 12 which permits the rudder to be fitted down over the vertical rudder 9. This horizontal rudder at its forward end is hinged at 13 to the beam and one blade of the hinge has a transversely extending slot 14 for the pin 1.5 which is secured to the beam. Thus the horizontal rudder may be tilted as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 6, the hinge connection 14-15 permitting this adjustment of the horizontal rudder. The horizon tal rudder is retained in adjusted position by means of two retaining cords 16, one attached at each side of the beam. Each of these cords passes through an opening 16 in the horizontal rudder and the upper ends of the cords are secured to the vertical rudder 9. Thus the horizontal rudder 12 may be tilted and these tight cords 16 will hold it in adjusted position so that the toy airplane may be caused to turn to the right or to the left, depending upon the adjustment of the horizontal rudder 12.

The horizontal rudder 12 is also adapted for adjustment tov causethe airplane to rise.

For this purpose the horizontal rudder is provided with an elastic cord 17 which may ill be in one piece, or two cords may be used. In either case, the lower ends of the elastic cord are secured at opposite sides of the beam and the upper ends of the elastic cords are secured to the free end of the hinged horizontal rudder 12, The horizontal rudder is held in adjusted position by means of a stop block 18 having a slot 19 by means of which it may he slipped over the rear edge of the vertical rud' der 9 and be made to engage in a slotted notch 10 in the rear edge of the rudder 9. This stop block is fashioned with two openings 20 for the elastic. cord or cords and it will be apparent thatwhen the rudder 12 has been adjusted to desired position, thestop block may be fixed to the rudder 9 for holding the rudder 12 in the adjustedposition in coaction with the resilient cord 17. j j V I At the rear end of the horizontal rudder 12 a reversible aileron 21maybe attached. This aileron as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is concavo-conveX in form and maybe detachably secured at'therear end of the rudder 12. In

Fig. 1 the aileron is in position to steer the toy with the notched verticalrudder, and elastic means connecting'said horizontal rudder with the beam. Y

3. The combination in a toy airplane with a longitudinally disposed beam and a fixed vertical rudder having notches in its rear edge, of a slotted hinged horizontal rudder, a detachable slot-ted stop block for'coaction with the notched edge of the vertical rudder, and an elastic cord connected to the free end 3f the horizontal rudder and anchored to the cam.

4. The'combination in. a toyairplane with a longitudinally extending beam of a hinged horizontal rudder having a plurality of outwardly curved spring plates atits rear edge, of .a curved aileron, and a complementary plurality of friction plates on saidaileron.

5. The combination in a toy airplane with a longitudinally disposed beam, of a horizontal rudder,'a hinge connecting'the rudder with the beam, a slot in one plate of the hinge, and a pinin the beam, for coaction with said slot, a vertical rudder, and cords passing through said horizontal rudder and having their ends attached to the vertical rudder and said beam. 7

In testimony whereof 'I aflix. my signature. I

JOHN H. PE'NNICKL and lower sides of the rudder 12 and curving outwardly therefrom. In Fig. 5 it-will be apparent that the aileron 21 may be attached to the rudder 12 by slipping the straight plates 22 between the rudder 12 and and elastic means connecting the horizontal rudder and said beam.

2. The combination in a toy airplane with a longitudinally disposed beam and a fixed vertical rudder on said beam having notches in its rear edge, of a hinged horizontal rudder, astop block having a slot for coaction too I I an 

